In recent weeks I have reproduced the previously-published reflections on “Who is Eugene de Mazenod” to coincide with the feast of St. Eugene and with the Oblate vocations novena. In the past year the number of adherents to the site has increased as well as the interest through the links in Facebook and Twitter. Many of the new readers have appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the person and mission of Eugene.
Tomorrow we pick up again from where we left off in our chronological journey through the writings of Eugene. We left him in Rome after the Church’s approval of our Congregation and our Rules and all that this meant for the Oblates:
From now on how can we not be overwhelmed with gratitude towards God and, looking seriously at ourselves, not attach ourselves still more to the Society which has just obtained such convincing proofs of the protection of the Lord, to whom we now belong in quite another manner since, in the hierarchical order, it is by her that we are attached to the supreme Head of the Church who is the sovereign moderator thereof.
Now is the time to adopt this “esprit de corps” which incites us not to be surpassed by any other community in faithfulness to the Rule, etc….
Letter to Henri Tempier, 9 March 1826, EO VII n. 229
“To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have traveled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. May we learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives.” Pope Francis
This morning I think of the journey that I am on, that we are all on, together as members of the Church, as members of the Oblate family, as members of our parishes and families. Each of the communities that we belong to contributing and shaping who we are in God, in each other, in love. It is raining this morning and I can hear the drops of rain hitting the window. If I were to go to my window and watch I would see the water beginning to form puddles, with each drop making a change as it hits and is absorbed by a greater body of water. The puddle which is absorbed by the earth to begin to nourish the earth itself all the while growing until it appears as a trickle, a creek and becomes a stream. It grows deeper and stronger to become a river, so deep that one cannot always see through to the river bed, nor appreciate how it is teaming with life of all sorts and only the occasional rapids hinting that it not always placid and calm – its currents not always visible . And the river runs out to meet the ocean and becomes part of yet a greater and deeper body, nourishing and being nourished. Each molecule now indistinguishable from the other.
This seems to be like the journey that I, that we are all on, together and yet totally our own. I am reminded of what Paul wrote in Corinthians, about being a part of the same body that has many parts, being a part of the body of Christ. Eugene speaking “From now on how can we not be overwhelmed with gratitude towards God and, looking seriously at ourselves, not attach ourselves still more to the Society which has just obtained such convincing proofs of the protection of the Lord, to whom we now belong in quite another manner …” And Pope Francis speaking of himself then us – all as one. It is a mystery and yet perfectly understandable, in fact, it could be no other way. There is incredible joy that is the depths, the foundation of the “esprit de corps that Eugene says ‘ignites’ our spirits, inspires us and that Francis says calls us to gratitude. This daily blog which calls us together in yet another way, teaching, reminding and inspiring us, inviting us to share ourselves in small ways, helping us to connect with each other and with our very selves. Here it helps me, us to “… learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives.” Thank you.